Capsule-machine



(N0 mam 2 O. F. PURDIE.

CAPSULE MACHINE.

No; 276,282. Patented Apr. 24, 1883.

w/nmsts lNVE/VTOR Afforney is a plan view of a. portion of the same.

UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. PURDIE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CAPSULE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,282, dated April24, 1883. Application filed September 2), 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. PURDIE, of Detroit, county of Wayne,State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement inCapsule-Machines; and I declarethefollowing to be a full, clear, andexactdescription of the same, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertaips to make and use it, reference being had tothe'accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in the combinations of devices and applianceshereinafter specified, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 Fig. 3 is a variation. 4 is a perspective view of amold or pin. t

My inventionis designed as an improvement upon a device for which anapplication for Letters Patent was filed by me August 26, 1882, (SerialNo. 70,356,) fora capsule-machine, and is designed especially to providemeans whereby the plate to which the capsule-molds are commonly attachedmay be dispensed with. I accomplish this result, first, by holding themolds in place by means of a wire fastening; and, second, by providingmeans for removing the molds from the capsules independent of saidmold-plate.

In carrying out my invention, A is a plate provided with one or moreperforations, a, adapted to receive a capsule-mold. Said perforationsmay simply extend through said plate even with the surface, or beextended by a hub rigidly secured thereto; or the plate maybe providedwith suitable bushing for said perforations, as may be desired.

13 represents one or more capsule-molds, preferably encircled by asuitable depression or groove, b. Said molds are provided with a socket,I), and a T-shaped head, b i

B represents Wire inserted in the sockets b, by means of which two ormore molds may be secured together. I prefer that said sockets should beconstructed eccentrically, and that the pins should be so arranged thatthe sockets will be alternately on opposite sides of the center in orderthat the wire may be passed in a zigzag manner through the series ofmolds,

as shown in Fig. 3, as the molds will thus be more securely heldtogether.

I3 represents capsules formed upon the molds B.

G is a plate provided with Tshaped sockets 0, adapted to engage with theT-shaped heads of the molds.

In order to remove the molds from the capsules, it is evident that theplate A may be forced downward by any proper mechanism 5 or the plate(J, when the heads I) of the molds have been engaged in the sockets 0,may be forced upward by any suitable means. As shownin the drawings, theplate (J is adapted to be forced upward, and for this purposeis sleevedupon the guides I). In order to distribute the strain upon the sleevedplates and secure a more perfect vertical movement of the moldpins whenthe plate 0 is forced upward, 1 prefer to provide the plateE withadditional arms, F, rigidly secured thereto and sleeved in the plate 0,said arms extending through upon the sleeved plate for the purpose ofholding it firmly down when the molds are removed.

The operation of the device will now he understood. After the molds,secured together in the sleeved plateA in the manner described, havebeen dipped in the gelatine and the capsules formed thereon and suitablydried, said plate is secured in the frame G, provided with suitableguides therefor. At the same time the heads of the molds are engaged inthe sockets of the plate 0, when by lifting said plate 0 by any propermechanism the molds are withdrawn from the capsules, and the sleeves ofthe plate A cut the capsules on the lower exterior of the groove b inthe manner described in the application already referred to.

I would have it understood thatI do notconfine myself to the T-shapedhead for the capsule molds or the corresponding T- shaped sockets in theplate 0, as itis evident thatany other suitable shape of the same wouldanswer thesame purpose.

It is evident, also, thatsuitahle hooks might be provided to grip uponthe heads of the molds for the purpose of their removal from thecapsules.

H is a capsule-mold, whose cross-section is ICO elliptical or oval inform. Said pin is preferably encircled with the groove h. Theobjectofconstructing the mold ellipticalor oval in crosssection is to impart acorresponding shape to the completed capsule. This form is advantageous,in that it enables the capsule to be more readily and easily swallowedthan where the capsule is in the form of a cylinder. A is a plateprovided with one or more oval perforations or sockets adapted toreceive said mold. It is evident that a capsule formed upon such a moldpossesses superior advantages over those in common use; but I wouldhaveit understood that I do not confine myself to any particular shapeof molds.

' I do hot herein broadly claim a plate provided with sockets orsleeves, and mold-pins arranged to be reciprocated through such socketsor sleeves, as such features constitute thesubject matter of theapplication for Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to.

What I claim is- 1. In a capsule-inachine, the combination, with aperforated plate, of one or more capsulemolds adapted to be projected toand fro in said perforated plate by any suitable mechanism, a plateengaging the heads of the capsule-molds, said molds being securedtogether by a wire fastening, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. In a capsule-machine, the combination, with a sleeved plate, of oneor more capsulemolds adapted to be projected to and fro in said sleevedplate by any suitable mechanism, said molds engaged at their butt-endsby a suitable grooved plate,substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

3. In a capsule-machine, the combination, with a sleeved plate, of oneor more capsule molds adapted to be projected to and fro in said sleevedplate by any suitable mechanism,

said molds engaged at their butt-ends by a suitable grooved plate, andsecured together by a wire fastening, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

4. In a capsule-machine, the combination, with a sleeved plate, of oneor more capsulemolds adapted to be projected to and fro in said sleevedplate by any suitable mechanism, said molds provided at a capsule lengthfrom the end of the molds with annular grooves, and the butt-ends of"the molds fastened together by a wire, substantially as described.

5. In a capsule-machine, a series of capsulemolds secured together by awire fastening, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a capsule-machine, the combination of a series of capsule'moldsunited by a wire connection, and a plate constructed to be engaged withand disengaged from the. ends of the molds, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

7. In a capsule-machine, the combination, with a sleeved plate, of aseries of capsulemolds secured together by a wire fastening, a

CHARLES F. PURDIE.

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, A. E. INGLIS.

